The Villadom Times Weekly Newspaper Online-Jun 2, 2010 Issue

Ho-Ho-Kus June 2, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 9 Volunteer raises funds for lightning detection system by Jennifer Crusco In just 12 days, Ho-Ho-Kus resident Carol Tyler is twothirds of the way toward her goal of raising $12,000 for a lightning detection system for North Field and Lloyd Road Field. At last week’s council meeting, Tyler announced that she had just received another donation, which put her total at $9,000. Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas Randall noted that this private fundraising initiative “takes all judgment out of this” project, which had been criticized by some residents as too expensive. Councilman Kevin Crossley pointed out that the lightning detection system was something that had been discussed about a decade ago. After the meeting, Tyler told Villadom TIMES the borough recently received a lightning detection system grant, which will match up to $14,000. She said she set the fundraising bar at $12,000 because she does not believe the borough will need more than $24,000 total to purchase and install the system. “It’s hard to take the money from the town budget,” Tyler acknowledged. She said she has been working with the Ho-Ho-Kus Ofﬁce of Emergency Management, the HoHo-Kus Ambulance Corps (of which she is president), and the Ho-Ho-Kus Recreation Department. Donations have been pouring in, and every contribution is welcome, Tyler said. “We would like to get this installed before the summer recreation season starts,” she added. Donations may be sent to Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Hall, 333 Warren Avenue, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423. Checks should be made payable to “Ho-Ho-Kus Recreation Lightning Fund.” Tyler noted that all donations are being placed in a trust fund dedicated to the purchase of the lightning detection system. She thanked everyone who has already contributed to this effort. Last summer, the Ho-Ho-Kus Council applied for a $14,000 grant from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund for this project. The governing body planned to provide a dollar for dollar cash match. The warning system would be similar to those used at golf courses to alert players of the presence of lightning, and allow them to get to safety. The system would include a siren and/or lights that would be activated when there is the potential for a lightning strike. According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research website, there are over three million lightning ﬂashes worldwide each day. Charges are carried by water droplets and ice crystals, which are present in the clouds that precede a storm. Storms have a negative charge at the base and a positively charged region at the top. Air acts as an insulator and impedes the connection between these two regions. However, when the charge grows too intense for the air to restrain, an electrical impulse (a leader) extends downward in steps, resulting in the jagged form of a lightning bolt. A bolt can strike well before the ﬁrst raindrop falls. The NCAR notes that lightning kills more people than tornadoes, ﬂoods, and other natural occurrences. Cars and buildings offer protection from storms. Anyone caught outdoors when a storm approaches should stay away from areas that attract lightning, including the tallest object in an area (such as a tree) or wire fences and metal pipes, since more people are killed by a high voltage current that reaches out from an object than from a direct strike. High places should also be avoided. If an individual ﬁnds that he or she is taller than anything else in the area, that person should crouch below the level of a natural feature, but should not lie ﬂat. Bodies of water should be avoided during storms. The NCAR website also states that, even when lightning does not kill, the physical, neurological, and psychological effects can be long-lived. There are multiple vendors of lightning warning systems. Some include a solar option, and some automatically turn off irrigation systems or sensitive electronics when lightning approaches. Other New Jersey municipalities are installing, or have installed, warning systems. In 2009, Franklin Lakes awarded a $25,320 contract to a Wisconsin ﬁrm. That borough’s system includes a lightning sensor, a lightning data receiver, ﬁber-optic cable, a tripod with mounting hardware, and software. The system monitors cloud, and cloud-to-ground lightning, includes a safeguard to prevent false alarms, a timer to control the hours of strobe light operation, and a safeguard to prevent false alarms. Franklin Lakes will be responsible for routine maintenance. Ho-Ho-Kus Jottings Ducky Derby Day features rides & fun Ho-Ho-Kus Ducky Derby is set for Saturday, June 5 from 1 to 6 p.m. Come for lunch, then enjoy carnival rides, a ride on the trackless train, a giant wavy slide, the Bounce House, a rock wall to scale, an obstacle course, vendors’ booths, and information kiosks featuring borough organizations. The derby will be held at 5 p.m. An estimated 1,500 rubber ducks will be placed in the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook for a race to the ﬁnish. The owner of the ﬁrst duck to cross the ﬁnish line will take ﬁrst prize: dinner for six courtesy of the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern and a youth mountain bike from Ridgewood Cycle Shop. The owner of the last place duck will also receive a prize. For duck adoptions and wristbands for unlimited rides, visit Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Hall. For more information, call the Ho-Ho-Kus Recreation Commission at (201) 934-3994 or e-mail hhkrecreation@aol.com. Proceeds from this event beneﬁt the Ho-Ho-Kus Recreation Commission. Summer reading program available Registration for the summer reading program, “Make a Splash,” at the Worth-Pinkham Memorial Library will run through the month of June. Children ages two and older are welcome to participate. Parents are encouraged to visit the library at 91 Warren Avenue to register their children for this annual event. The program will begin July 1 and run through Labor Day. Call (201) 445-8078. Book Fair beneﬁt set The 2010 Ho-Ho-Kus Home and School Association’s Book Fair is scheduled for Tuesday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, Route 17 South in Paramus. A percentage of the proceeds will beneﬁt all students at the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School. Residents are encouraged to attend, shop, and support the school, the teachers, and the students. The day of the Book Fair, there will be a 4 p.m. story time for children in preschool through second grade, a special performance of Ho-Ho-Kus Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m., and poetry readings by a selected group of seventh graders at 8:15 p.m. A voucher is required for purchases (some items are not eligible for inclusion in this event). Vouchers may be obtained from store cashiers the day of the event. Those who are unable to attend the fundraiser may help by shopping online from June 1 through 6. For further information, contact Nancy Chu at (201) 493-2511. Reminder of hours at borough hall Hours of operation at Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Hall are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Due to budgetary restrictions, borough hall employees are not permitted to work overtime without special permission. Ho-Ho-Kus ofﬁcials ask residents and others who conduct business at borough hall to leave enough time for staff members to carry out their requests during regular hours of operation. 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